'I get off the bus one stop early.' 19 women share the micro fitness habits they swear by.

If you're anything like us, health and fitness can easily slip out of focus in the chaos of life. 

Attending a gym class or waking up at the crack of dawn to go for a run can feel... challenging.

But, as it so happens, healthy living doesn't necessarily require such a labour-intensive approach. 

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So, we spoke to 19 women to learn their tried and tested life hacks for living a healthier life - without all the extra effort. 

Here are the micro-habits they swear by to bring a little more light to their day:

"If I want to walk or train early, I must put out my ENTIRE outfit the night before. Otherwise, it's not going to happen. It makes it so much easier when I'm in a daze to just chuck it all on, skull some coffee, and run out the door." - Charlie.

"I'll rest on my back and elevate my feet on the wall for five minutes when I start to feel a little anxious, while focusing on my breath. It’s a quick and easy fix for me! Not as easy and glamorous to do at an office though..." - Cleo.

"I sign up for my gym classes at the start of the week so I have them booked into my day well in advance." - Julia.

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"I go the gym in the afternoons. So if my outfit allows, I wear my sports bra to work. It means in my head I am 'halfway dressed' and ready to go when I clock off. Such a small step, but it's such a mindset hack." - Gem.

"Owning a Fitbit has made me walk more often. Seeing how many steps I do a day really encourages me to get up and move." - Michelle.

"I started doing pilates once a week to help build my core strength and have found it helps immensely with my regular workouts and day-to-day life." - Bern.

"I have a rule which is if I have time, I walk there. Whether that's to the office, to the gym, or to meet a friend, I try to do this as much as possible. It's not only a great way to get my steps up (something I'm a little obsessed with) and save money, but it also puts me in a great mood." - Charlie.

"We got two puppies this year which means we’ve had to start going on a walk every morning. It’s been an easy habit to get in to because I know that even if I can’t be bothered, I have to. And I’m always happier when I’ve been for our morning walk." - Nic.

Image: Supplied.

"I struggle to drink enough water during the day. It sounds silly, but someone once told me that I should just take one or two swigs of water every time I look at the bottle on my desk. It's a surprisingly simple and manageable way to remember, as it often catches my eye!" - Ali.

"I get off the bus one stop earlier in the mornings. No matter what I do for the rest of the day, I’ve at least done a 20 to 25 minute walk." - Meth.

"I listen to The Quicky podcast in the morning and do a workout with my 'gym in the box' (a few pieces of equipment which are stored in a blanket box in my bedroom.) It's a good start to the day!" - Cindy.

"Instead of a big water bottle, I only have a small glass of water with me at my desk during the workday. That way I have to get up many times to refill it, breaking up long stretches of sitting." - Katherine.

"I listen to a 20 minute meditation every night when I get into bed. It winds me down, makes me clear my mind, and puts me to sleep really quickly!" - Kate.

"I go for a swim every morning before work. It started as a lockdown habit to keep my head above water (pun intended) but I quickly fell out of the habit after Sydney opened up. Fast forward to this week, a huge week at work for me, and I’m back to it. This photo is from 7am this morning, a quick dip before suiting up in the change rooms and getting on the express bus into the city." - Lizzie.

Image: Supplied.

"I have a smoothie for breakfast which ensures I have three or four fruit and veggie hits. I usually include spinach, kale, mixed berries, banana, Greek yogurt and coconut water. Love it!" - Rebecca.

"I stand on one leg while I brush my teeth, or when I'm talking to someone at work to help improve my balance." - Sophie.

"I have a carrot in my lunchbox and snack on it on the drive home from work. It stops the pre dinner snacking and I don’t overeat later." - Tanya.

"Taking the stairs at work. I'm on the fifth floor so I only do it once (down and up) when I go to get my coffee. I've noticed a difference with fitness in that I'm not out of breath anymore." - Asten.

"Our work team (four of us) stop on the hour and do 10 sit-ups, 10 squats and 10 arm exercises. We are all working from home so it’s a great way to check in with the team and it takes less than a minute." - Diane

Feature Image: Getty.